Ajax lose ground, Heerenveen win

Published Feb. 13, 2011 7:15 p.m. ET

foxsports

Ajax raced into a two-goal lead thanks to efforts from Miralem Sulejmani and Siem de Jong with 34 minutes played. Roda pulled one back before half-time through Mads Junker, with Anouar Hadouir levelling matters late on. Groningen missed the chance to leapfrog Ajax in the standings after being held to a 1-1 draw at De Graafschap. Danny Holla gave the visitors a first-half lead, but Rydell Poepon found the back of the net six minutes after half-time. Heerenveen have closed to within a point of Utrecht following a 2-0 away success at NAC Breda. Goals from Luciano Narsingh and Oussama Assaidi ensured the visitors secured the points. Excelsior remain 16th in the standings after going down 2-0 at NEC. The home side climbed one place into 10th courtesy of second half efforts from Niki Zimling.